Conference napalm::guitar

How old is he ?

If he's young, you may want to start of with a 3/4 scale instrument.

If he's around 11 or 12, that's usually a good break point to get
into the standard size guitars, but even at that age, a 3/4 scale
is a pretty good option, one important one being they're cheap, and
if the interest doesn't last, the investiment isn't big..

As far as standard size 6 string acoutsics go, you can figure
starting around $175 or so, up to $225, $250.

Suffice to mention, $200-$250 will buy you a very good guitar that
will defintely last if care for.

Many will suggest this :  Start off with a good guitar that's
'Playable'  Nothing will impead or discourage a beginner quicker
then a guitar that's tuff to play.

Some popular brands at the low end ? (of the top of my head) 

Harmony, Kent, Hondo...

Some popular brands that make affordable acoustics.

Ibanez, Fender, Guild, Alvarez..

I don't know where you live, (your nodes in Area 2... aint that in
the Maynard area ??)

If you're close to Nashua, may be worth a trip to Hampshire Music for
some browsing/window shopping.  (they're on 101A, about a mile before
Rte 3 on the Amherst side.)The prices are decnet, and they've usually 
got a decent stock to chose from.

Fitchburg Music, and the Music Box, (both in Fitcburg Ma.) usually
have good stock, but I'm not convicned they can beat Hampshire
music for the prices. 

(These are just a few places that I frequent, buy stuff at....  Good stores
to do business with..)

	He's 16, and if not taller than me already will be next
	week:-), so size isn't an issue.

	I'm well aware that a decent instrument is a necessity
	if he's going to stay interested (memories of my first
	and only electric guitar, with the action literally an inch 
	high at the twelfth fret, bear that out). So, whatever
	he gets should be easy to play, decent intonation and
	action, and not likely to break within a few months -
	sound quality is secondary.

	I did get one mail recommendation for a Yamaha in the $200
	range, so I think I can tell my parents to expect to
	pay in the $200-250 range for the guitar itself. Then,
	of course, there's strings, books, a capo, a strap, 
	lessons, recordings of good guitarists, magazines,... 
	Maybe I won't tell them about that part of it:-).

	Area 2 (my node) is in Nashua, but my brother's in
	Pittsfield MA. The only decent music store I remember
	from there has closed, so if anyone out there happens
	to know a good store in the area now, I'd appreciate it.
	Maybe I can bring him East and hit some local and Boston
	stores.

	Thanks, Mike

    Yeah, I re-read you're note and realized that you'd certainly
    be aware of what I wrote...  Should read better before I replied...
    I missed the part about yuo playing as well..
    
    I was up at Hampshire Music on Saturday.  Saw a new line that I've
    never seen before "Galino"  (Korean made)  not bad...  Probably 
    a bit better instrument then your basic $200 yamaha. (I had one of
    those, and I can say for sure, this was a better guitar.) They had
    three lines in stock.  One a classical peice, the other two, your
    basic dreadnaughts.  The cheaper line listed for $339, their price
    was $239, and a better one with rose wood back and sides that listed
    for $409, sold for $299.  (That's the one my brother in-law bought)
    Not bad..  (played and sounded  better then the lower priced one..
    makes sense, rosewood..)
    
    The guitars appear to be made failry well, have decent tone, nice
    neck, pretty good machine heads, and off the display hook, pretty good 
    action with lots of room for improvement.
    
    I don't think they had anymore then one of the $299 one, but they had
    a few of the $239 model.  W/cas probably be $260..  If you're
    interested, take a run over there some lunch hour...    They're
    having one of their 'infamous' big sales, like they always do..
    Plus they'll throw in about $10 to $20 worth of music (books)
    and that would be nice given he's a beginner.
    
    Other then that, they didn't have anything else I saw worth buying
    in that price range.  I guess if I was to make a recommendation on
    these "Galino's" I'd say, if you/(your parents) could swing it, the
    extra $40 dollars for the better one, would be money well spent.
    
    /r

	You might try McDuffs Music in Shrewsberry if you come east.
	It's right next to Spags and they are competing against a new
	music store right down the street so seem to have good prices
	and thery are real nice folks.

	If you like Martins and are looking in the 200$ range, you might
	consider a Sigma which are made in Japan supposedly to Martin
	specifications.  I saw one at McDuffs for ~225.  I have one
	and really like it.

	Just a thought...

	- Pete

    How about a Madeira? The ones I tried seemed okay for the money.
    Ovation...?
    
    A brand to avoid: Sterling. I know...I HAVE ONE! El stinkeroo!
    

        I received an `American Musical Supply' mail order catalog in
        the mail yesterday,  and  noticed  on the back page that they
        had a `package deal'  accoustic  setup for sale.  This is how
        it went. . .
        
        `Washburn Guitar Package 
        Complete with a Dreadnough body  style,  natural finish and a
        select spruce top.  Also comes with mahogany back and sides.
        Package includes:
        Washburn D-10, chipboard case, guitar polish cloth, 3 sets of
        Martin, Marquis Guitar Strings, 1 dozen Fender  Guitar  Picks
        and a SR 1000 Matrix Tuner.'
        
        $195.00 
        
        If you're interested, let me know.  I'll send  you  the phone
        number  and  order  number  if this sounds like something you
        think he'd like.
        
        Matt

    
    	My boss gave me an Eterna acoustic [no pickups].
    
    	How does this model rate, compared to other acoustics?
    
    
    							GTI
    

     re: -.1; with a name like that it should
    last forever.......
    ;^) x1000
    -Bill
    

    We do not seem to get the astonishing discounts in the UK that you get
    over there and my advice to someone who wanted a good guitar but
    couldn't stretch the loot to fit would be to buy used, but take along
    someone in the know for insurance.
    
    
    
    andy 

    
    
    
    	Hold on to your hat dude... I just saw for $40 dollars a rosewood
    back and sides, spruce top acoustic at my local music store...
    adjustable bridge!!!!  Never saw one before, can't even remember the
    name.. even come's witha strap, but I doubt a case... anyone want me to
    buy it for them????
    
    
    	Or you could call direct... 207-622-6522, Capitol City Music
    
    
    Steve

    You want to buy it for me??!!  Go ahead!!  :^)
    
    Chris D.

    I had an old laminated-top Epiphone for about ten years until recently,
    and it played and sounded fine to my ears. the newer Epiphones are
    fine, too, for something in that price range (in the UK, about 120 to
    140 pounds).
    
    I had a Sigma for a while last year - it sounded OK but I couldn't get
    the feel of it. This is probably just a personal thing, as they seem to
    be pretty good guitars for the price, but then you can't beat the real
    thing!
    
    Washburns are OK too, as are the cheaper Ovations (Applause range), and
    Takamines. Again, just a personal thing, but I've never got on with
    Yamaha guitars for some reason.
    
    Bob

    I looked at Hampshire Music, but found nothing acceptable in the
    desired price range. Over a couple of weeks at Daddy's in Nashua
    I saw a couple decent used Yamahas for about $160, but didn't
    take them right away - they were gone by the time I went back.
    Last night I was looking at a used Sigma ($180 inc. case) and
    a new Yamaha FG400A for $200 - I preferred the latter, but couldn't
    talk them down in price (I'm not much of a negotiator, and the
    fact that it needed to be sent out for a little adjustment on the
    action was supposedly a factor).

    Meanwhile, my wife got an invitation to one of those "password-
    only" sales at Acton Music. We went this morning, and found a pile
    of Martin Sigma TM-1's (made in Korea, not Japan as an earlier note
    suggested) for $130. The one I tried had the most accurate intonation
    of anything I'd tried lately, the action was comfortably low without
    buzzing, and the sound was decent if not outstanding. So, my brother
    gets his first "Martin" this Christmas.

    Thanks for all the suggestions,

    Mike